Almost half of 217 global firms cut their business travel carbon emissions by at least 50% between 2019 and 2022, analysis published on Monday found, as corporate air travel returned at a much slower pace since the pandemic than leisure flights. Despite a global rebound, business travel has been slow to return to 2019 levels, with many corporate clients turning to video conferencing or rail trips rather than flying. Global business travel firms say this trend could hit corporate relationships, while environmentalists argue it represents an important step in minimizing overall emissions. Advocacy group Transport and Environment has said that a 50% reduction in business travel from pre-COVID levels is needed this decade to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. Major companies such as tech firm SAP, accounting firm PwC and Lloyd's Banking Group all reduced their corporate air travel emissions by more than 75% compared to 2019, the Travel Smart Emissions Tracker analysis concluded. "The way forward is collaboration with more online meetings, more travel by train and less by plane," Denise Auclair, Travel Smart campaign manager, said in a statement. However, the study found 21 of the companies exceeded their levels of flying compared to 2019.<br/>
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The commercial airline pilot kept his condition a secret for years. He was supposed to inform the Federal Aviation Administration that he was seeing a therapist for anxiety and depression, but he couldn't bring himself to share his despair. He was afraid of the repercussions. "I lied to the FAA about the treatment I was receiving because that would have opened a can of worms. I would have been grounded until I was better," said the 31-year-old first officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because his airline did not authorize him to talk with journalists. "It is very easy to just not tell them what's going on." The pilot continued working, but his symptoms worsened. During long stretches of depression, he ate little and was consumed by hopelessness. He could no longer conceal his mental health crisis from his employer or the FAA. He decided to ground himself. "I started to think I had two options: I either stop flying or I die," he said. His story speaks to a larger problem in the profession: Many pilots would rather ignore or hide their mental health problems than disclose their condition and risk their livelihood. As a result, pilots who may be safety risks remain in the air while those who have admitted they need help face a costly, time-consuming and opaque process to meet the FAA's standards for medical fitness. A recent incident in which an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot tried to take down a plane has pushed federal officials to address the flaws in their mental health system.<br/>
A powerful storm roaring up the US East Coast is poised to strike New York City at the peak of Monday morning’s rush hour, threatening heavy rain, widespread flooding, winds strong enough to delay air travel and to cause power outages. But the mid-December forecast doesn’t include snow. Flood watches and warnings, along with high wind advisories, stretch from North Carolina to Maine, and hurricane-force winds may sweep across the Atlantic just off the coast, according to the National Weather Service. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued similar alerts in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The storm has already dropped 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain across parts of Florida, with some areas getting as much as 8 inches, said Rich Otto, a forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center. The coast from Maine to North Carolina may get between 2 and 4 inches of rain. Already, Florida has seen widespread flooding as the storm dropped heavy rain and pushed water on shore from the Atlantic. “It’s a pretty strong storm system,” Otto said. “The low pressure will be over New York City around 7 a.m. tomorrow. There will be strong winds. I am sure there will be some airport delays from this system.” At this time of year – meteorological winter started Dec. 1 and the official first day is Dec. 21 – at least some areas typically would get some heavy snow. But because temperatures are so mild, hardly a flake will fall making this an unusual storm, Otto said. It’s also unusual because such a wide area will get heavy, flooding rain. <br/>
The Biden administration said on Friday it will recognize a methodology favored by the ethanol industry in guidance to companies looking to claim tax credits for sustainable aviation fuel, a pivotal win for the politically powerful US corn lobby. But the administration will also update the methodology by March 1, which leaves some uncertainty for corn-based ethanol producers, as it could ultimately tighten requirements around SAF feedstocks. The global aviation industry, which is expected to reap net profits of over $20b in 2023 and accounts for about 2% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonize, as the equipment is not easy to electrify. Airlines argue that incentives are needed to boost the market for SAF, which can generate 50% less greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle than petroleum fuel, but is typically two to three times more expensive than fossil-fuel-based jet fuel. For months, the Biden administration has been divided over whether to recognize the Department of Energy's Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Technologies (GREET) model. That model enables ethanol-based SAF to qualify for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden's signature climate law. Ethanol producers and corn farmers in rural states such as Iowa and Illinois have been awaiting updates, as the industry sees SAF as one of the only routes to grow ethanol demand amid rising sales of electric vehicles.<br/>
Environmental groups fear new US guidelines for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could promote widespread production of biofuels that may not actually be sustainable. At issue are guidelines released on 15 December defining how fuel producers can determine which alternative fuels qualify for a new SAF tax credit. Environmental groups have been urging the government not to allow a method known as “GREET”, which they say fails to fully account for a biofuel’s lifecycle emissions. But they face a tough fight against powerful US industries, including airlines, which say the GREET method is credible and critical to helping them meet carbon-reduction goals. Lobby groups with ties to biofuel – like the National Corn Growers Association and Clean Fuels Alliance America – are aligned behind airlines. “Our initial assessment is that this would be a blank check for fuels made from sugar cane, soybean and rapeseed – none of which are sustainable or consistent with Congress’ intent,” Environmental Defense Fund senior vice-president Mark Brownstein said on 15 December of the USA’s new tax guidance. A 2022 US law grants fuel producers a $1.25-$1.75 tax credit per gallon for SAF deemed to have 50% less life-cycle carbon emissions than fossil-based jet fuel. The law defines qualifying fuels as those meeting definitions within ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation. But the law also allows fuels meeting other “similar” methods as qualifying. The 15 December guidance, issued by the Internal Revenue Service and US Department the Treasury, starts to define those other methods. Specifically, the government says current GREET models to not satisfy SAF requirements. But it is developing a “modified GREET” model for SAF, to be completed in early 2024.<br/>
Colleen Dafoe was at the Halifax airport last December with her husband and daughter when WestJet told her their trip was cancelled.<br/>The airline suggested rescheduling them on a flight more than 10 days later, she said -- well after the end of their planned vacation to the Dominican Republic to celebrate Dafoe's 50th birthday with extended family. They never left Nova Scotia. Dafoe said she asked for a refund from WestJet, which refused and instead offered a vacation voucher valid for one year. Eventually, she turned to small claims court for the $1,200 in compensation she believed her family was owed under Canada's passenger rights charter. Only after she launched the legal action did a WestJet lawyer offer to pay them the full amount -- if they signed a non-disclosure agreement barring them from discussing the matter. In the end, Dafoe agree to a settlement that included a confidentiality clause, which bars her from disclosing the amount. WestJet says it does "not comment on NDAs publicly regardless of topic or circumstance." Dafoe said she agreed to settle because going to court seemed "kind of scary -- we didn't know if we could navigate the system well enough against a full-time lawyer and not come out losers." Her case fits into an apparent pattern where Canada's two biggest airlines initially proffer vouchers -- often worth between $150 and $300 -- if a passenger complains. Then, should the customer decline and proceed to file a court claim, Air Canada and WestJet eventually offer up to as much as the original request, or sometimes more, after a protracted back-and-forth -- so long as an NDA is inked. The Canadian Press communicated with more than 20 passengers of Canadian airlines who faced scenarios comparable with Dafoe's. Some spurned the offers, while others agreed to settlements they said topped $1,000. Consumer rights advocates warn that confidentiality agreements between big companies and individual customers are far from routine in most sectors, and that the policy amounts to a power play by airlines to avoid setting legal precedents or letting word of payouts spread. Story has more.<br/>
Brazilian airline Azul said on Friday it had bought seven Airbus A330neo wide-body aircraft to significantly expand international flights, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2026. Azul , which currently flies to Paris, Lisbon, Curacao, a number of Uruguayan cities and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, said the fleet renewal effort would help it cut operating costs, including by burning less fuel. "We expect to have a large expansion in international flights with this purchase," CEO John Rodgerson said at an event celebrating the 15-year anniversary of Azul's first flight. "The idea is to have more Brazilian cities connected to cities outside the country," he added. Airbus said in a separate statement that the new firm order was for four aircraft. Azul said the three other orders were already on the European planemaker's backlog, bringing to seven the total number of aircraft to be delivered. Azul did not detail how much it would pay for the new aircraft, but Rodgerson noted that the A330neo's list price currently stands at around $250m.<br/>
Denmark on Friday agreed to impose a tax on air passengers to help finance the airline industry's transition to greener practices, which will be gradually phased in from 2025, the government said. The government in November proposed imposing an average tax of 100 Danish crowns ($14.35) on air travel to help finance the industry's green transition, which aims to enable all domestic flights to use 100% sustainable fuels by 2030. Under Friday's agreement, the tax will by 2030 reach around 50 Danish crowns per passenger for intra-European flights, 310 crowns for medium-distance flights, and 410 for long-distance, according to a statement from the taxation ministry. Transit flights leaving after a stop-over in a Danish airport will be exempted, according to the statement.<br/>
Britain's Heathrow Airport said on Friday it expected to handle 81.4m passengers in 2024, encouraged by a strong recovery in travel demand. The airport, west of London, also said it now expected to handle 79.1m passengers this year, compared with an October forecast of 79.3m.<br/>
The Home Office said it has “robust plans” for flights to Rwanda, following reports airlines have so far refused to sign contracts to take part in the flagship asylum policy. The Sunday Times reported that firms have so far declined to sign up over fears of damage to their reputations from taking part in the plan. According to the paper, ministers have since appointed an agent to source a commercial aircraft supplier willing to ferry migrants to the African nation if and when the scheme becomes operational. A failure to do so raises the prospect of the Ministry of Defence and the RAF stepping in. Home Official officials insist that if and when the Rwanda legislation becomes law, there will be flights available. A Government spokesman said: “The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to stop the boats and get flights to Rwanda off the ground as soon as possible. Rwanda is ready to welcome large numbers of people and we have robust plans in place for future flights following discussions with a range of companies.”<br/>
The Libyan Ministry of Transport and the Italian Civil Aviation Authority on Sunday signed two agreements on air transport cooperation. The agreements, one air transport agreement and one memorandum on technical cooperation, were signed by Italian Civil Aviation Authority President Pierluigi Di Palma and the Libyan Undersecretary of Transportation Khaled Swesi in Tripoli, said a statement issued by the Libyan Ministry of Transportation. The air transport agreement will facilitate the resumption of flights between Europe and Libya, and the memorandum of technical cooperation between civil aviation institutions will contribute to raising the efficiency of civil aviation personnel, said the statement. Direct Flights between Libya and Italy were resumed earlier in September after a nearly 10-year halt.<br/>
On a chilly December morning in Geneva, Willie Walsh, the aviation world’s pugnacious champion, delivered some warm news on a global recovery in flying, predicting a bumper 2024 for airlines. But in the fair-weather world of travel, the Asia-Pacific region, once the fastest-growing aviation market globally, is now lagging behind. Volatile oil prices and limited airline capacity have been pushing up fares across the region, as the much-touted post-pandemic “revenge travel” trend is muted by cost-of-living crises that have downsized the holiday plans of tens of millions of people, and an economic crunch in China that has ripped away thousands of international seats. The IATA, which Walsh heads, predicts that the Asia-Pacific region will return to pre-pandemic travel levels next year with a net profit margin of 0.5%. By comparison, airlines in Europe, North America and the Middle East are all forecast to post profit margins of 3.3% or greater next year. Those in Latin America and Africa are expected to make losses.<br/>
Heavy rain from a coastal trough linked to ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper on Monday cut off several tourist towns in Australia's northeast along the Great Barrier Reef, forcing evacuations as some residents fled to rooftops to escape fast-rising rivers. Jasper lashed the far north regions of Queensland state last week leaving a trail of destruction before getting downgraded to a tropical low, bringing months worth of rain within a few hours over the weekend, official data showed. "We see a lot of natural disasters and this is just about the worst I can remember," Queensland state Premier Steven Miles told ABC television. "The problem is rain won't stop and until it eases up, we can't get aerial support into remote places." Cairns, the gateway town to the Great Barrier Reef and home to more than 150,000 people, received around 600 mm of rain over 40 hours through early Monday morning. That is more than triple the December mean of 182 mm. All flights from Cairns airport were cancelled or postponed on Monday with footage on social media showing planes partially submerged on the tarmac. Water pumps have been draining water since Sunday but "it's still not keeping up with the volume of water that came in," Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker told Sky News. A crocodile was spotted in a swollen drain in the town of Ingham, about 250 km south of Cairns, and authorities warned residents not to swim in flood waters.<br/>